What a sports physical actually checks
Heart, joints, history and movement: what a thorough pre-season physical looks for and why the questions matter as much as the examination.
A sports physical is not a formality. Done properly, it is the best chance to catch the small number of conditions that make sport unsafe, and the much larger number of niggles that will become injuries by mid-season.
The history
Family history of sudden cardiac death, previous concussions, previous injuries and how they were rehabilitated. The questions matter as much as the examination.
The heart
Blood pressure, heart sounds and, where indicated, an ECG. This is the part that can save a life.
Joints and movement
We screen the joints that your sport loads most and look at movement patterns that predict injury, such as knee control on landing.
If you are heading into a season, book a physical four to six weeks before it starts so there is time to act on what we find.
